The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 01, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 30, 1996
Clement C Lo, Lake Oswego, OR (US);
James P Axtell, Portland, OR (US);
Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A detection apparatus for use in printing devices is disclosed including a container for storing a printing composition, a light source, a light detector, and a light waveguide. The waveguide conducts light from the source to the detector which is configured to enable printing by the device when the light from the source is detected. The detection apparatus may also, or alternatively, be configured to enable printing when either or both the container is coupled to the device in a printing orientation and/or the container with a printing composition having a particular characteristic is coupled to the device. In such configurations, the waveguide fails to conduct light from the source to the detector when the container is not in the printing orientation and/or the container with the particular characteristic is disconnected from the device. A printing device is also disclosed including a printing mechanism that prints an image, a printing composition, a body in which the printing composition is stored, a control mechanism that enables printing by the printing mechanism, and a circuit that includes a movable waveguide. The waveguide has a conducting position in which the control mechanism enables the printing mechanism and a nonconducting position in which the control mechanism disables the printing mechanism. A container including a waveguide is additionally disclosed. Methods are further disclosed that detect if a printing composition supply is coupled to the device in a printing orientation and/or if a printing composition supply having a particular characteristic is coupled to the device.